"For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them"

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Monthly Archives: August 2013

This may raise some questions when I say I cannot remember a time in my life when I did not “believe”:

I was a sinner

Jesus died for my sin

Jesus was God’s eternal perfect Son

God was Sovereign over all His creation

By God’s grace I was born into a Christian family,brought up in a very fundamental church and memorized scriptures from 3 years old. At age three I can remember lying on the grass looking into the clear blue summer skies and thinking about God. As I thought, I was amazed how He loved and sent His Son to die on a cross. Actually, I would even thank God for His Son. My father would answer my varied questions about God, and was delighted to do so. I must add at this point even with all this thinking and thanking I was not yet saved.

Even though I never committed any great sins, I was very much aware that because Adam sinned I was under the curse of sin and to die in this condition would mean an eternity banished from God. The Sun in the sky always reminded me just how pure and holy God was and I had to be perfect to be in His heaven. I had memorized many of the verses in scripture with the word “believe” but I could not understand that word because I always “believed” and as yet was not saved.

At age 6 by my own reasoning I decided, I “believe” so I must be saved and openly confessed this. However, from that time on I carried a heavy burden of my sin until age 15. I had been baptized joined the church, evangelized, read my bible and did all I could to live like a Christian. As I grew older the burden of my sin nature caused deep distress until finally I told my parents and the elders of my church I remained in my sins. They were totally astonished and tried to convince me that it was just a time of doubting. I would not listen because I knew I did not have God’s salvation and I wanted that more than anything else.

This morning I have been enjoying wonderful thoughts from Psalm 148 and thought I might just jot them down. I pray that this posting may encourage you to read the five Hallelujah Psalms ( 146-150; called this because they all begin and end with Hallelujah)

First sit down and listen as the author wants us to hear the choirs sing a song of praise to Jehovah. In verses 1-6 the angels in heaven begin, than all the hosts of heaven join in to sing of His glories. The sun, the moon, the stars the firmament honor Him as the great creator and sustainer of the universe. In verses 7-8 the author does not stop there; but now the created sea creatures join in their praise. Imagine the fire, hail, snow, clouds and the stormy gale sing forth their praise of Jehovah’s omnipotence. In verse 9 when the author speaks of the mountains, hills, trees, birds and creeping things it took me through a mountain walk, the rustling leaves, the singing of the birds,every where you look there is beauty. My mind’s eye began to sing, “Oh Lord my God, How Great Thou Art”

Verses 11-14 seemed to me like the magnificent finale. The rulers, young men, maidens, old men and children of all the earth raise their voices in praise to Jehovah. He alone is exalted, he is recognized as reigning King. Now Jehovah “raised up a Horn for all His saints for the people of Israel who are near Him” Jehovah has given “His people their dignity and power” ( J.Flanigan, What the Bible Teaches )

I came to know Christ about 7 years ago. One of my friends invited me to church. I went and it was a nice experience. At that time my hobbies were following girls all the time, smoking, fighting and all kinds of nasty things. At that time I believed all gods were the same because I was born and brought up in a Hindu family.

I started going to church once a month for over one year. I heard the word of God and they taught how Jesus is the only true God. I learned that Christ died for my sins and He rose again on the third day and His blood paid for my sins. I must by faith trust in the work Jesus did at the cross and make Him Lord of my life. It is only then my life would change. Jesus said, you have not chosen me but I have chosen you. And faith is not my own but it is the gift of God. By his grace I gave my life to Christ.

My life and my thinking did change:

In the past I was worshipping creation but now the Creator. God is not an animal and God is not a playboy. He is holy.

I still sin but Christ died for my sin. Christ’s love is an undying love. It is not possible to grasp how wide, how deep and high is his love for us.

Now I can see myself and realized that I’m great sinner but Christ is a great Savior. I’m saved by only what Christ has done for me on the cross.

I was dead in sin but now I’m alive in Christ.

My aim is to serve The Lord.

By the grace of God my family is neutral and supportive but not Christians. I pray for their salvation that they may worship Christ alone because only Christ is worthy of all worship, honor and praise.

– Amar

Just to add to this, I received a message from Amar that he is entering seminary to become a pastor. “Amazing Grace”

WOULD ANY OF THE READERS LIKE TO SHARE THEIR TESTIMONY TO BE USED IN REACHING OTHERS WHO MAY READ THIS BLOG ? PLEASE SEND ME YOUR TESTIMONY BY EMAIL AT ciinstigator@gmail.com

My husband is a great fan of Sir Winston Churchill, a great leader,determined and inspiring. During World War 2 this great orator inspired the British people to push on even during great suffering and loss of lives. One quote was,” I have nothing to offer but blood,tears toil and sweat.” Post war he addressed college students with this; ” Never,Never, Never, give up”

This history lesson is given because it has inspired my posting for today. Recently,I have heard of many Christians who are going through severe trials and maybe you are one of them.

“Sicknesses, deaths, losses, disappointments, partings, separations, ingratitude, slander, all these are common things. We cannot get through life without them. Some day or other they find us out. The greater are our affections the deeper are our afflictions, and the more we love the more we have to weep.”J.C. Ryle

There are times you may even feel like giving up. My encouragement to you would be, “Never,Never,Never give up” even in the midst of, “blood tears toil and sweat” Contrary to the prosperity gospel , Paul says in 2 Timothy 3 “Yea, and all that would live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution”~ We must stop talking about what we SHALL face and discuss how do I persevere through all this. Hebrews 12:1-3 is like a glass of cold water to a dying thirsty man. The author likens our journey to a race. The athlete must: A) work hard B) keep his eyes focused on the prize. A) Work hard = Read, meditate and obey the Word of God as it is the laver that supplies daily sanctification. Psalm 119:9 “Confess our sin” (and remember) “He is faithful and just to forgive us our sin and cleanse us from all unrighteousness”1John 1:9 We must not constantly dwell on our sin we are forgiven and set free~ “run with endurance the race that is set before us” This race has been put before us by the Sovereign God, our Heavenly Father. B) Keep our eyes looking to Jesus, He supplies all our strength to persevere. You see verse 2 says He is the ~The Author(leader, pioneer,captain) of our faith ~The finisher( perfecter, carries us through to perfect completion) ~Our Lord and Savior is the Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end. He walked this road and suffered more than any of us. ~Remember the Gethsemane Garden, ” Not my will but thine be done” “sweating as it were great drops of blood” He did this ” for the joy set before Him.” Oh my suffering brothers and sisters He endured the cross the shame to reconcile us to God so we could become Sons, heirs and joint heirs with Him. And the glory which thou hast given me I have given unto them; that they may be one, even as we are one; (John 17:22 ASV) “He has brought me to his banquet hall, And his banner over me is love.” (S of S 2:4) ~Our Lord now reigns, “He has blessed us with EVERY spiritual blessing in the heavenly places with Him” Eph.1:3 ~Now in faith “consider Him” just let this sink deep into your heart. ~We must “Never,Never,Never give up!!! Our suffering is very small in comparison to our final glorification. ~“And after you have suffered a little while, the God of all grace, who has called you to his eternal glory in Christ, will himself restore, confirm, strengthen, and establish you.” (1 Peter 5:10 ESV) ~“Blessed is the man that endureth temptation; for when he hath been approved, he shall receive the crown of life, which the Lord promised to them that love him.” (James 1:12 ASV)

These are a few thoughts to encourage, if there are some reading this post and would like to add more to encourage, I would welcome your input.